Impact indicating system



7 Sheets-Sheet 1'- Feb. 20, 1962 R. ZlTO IMPACT INDICATING SYSTEMOriginal Filed Aug. 1, 1955 INVENTOR RALPH ZITO ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1962R. ZlTO 3,022,076

IMPACT INDICATING SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 1, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3F|G.3 FIG.6

VOLTS FIG.4

IMPULSES INTERVAL INTERVAL STORED BY STORED BY GOLNTER 80- COUNTER TIMEllf.

INVENTOR RALPH ZITO Feb. 20, 1962 R. ZITO IMPACT INDICATING SYSTEMOriginal Filed Aug. 1, 1955 FIG] 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 B 06 A0 B 0D TARGETSELECTOR SCORE lNDlCATOR E OTA S MO EZ INVENTOR RALPH ZITO Feb. 20, 1962R. ZITO IMPACT INDICATING SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 1, 1955 7Sheets-Sheet 5 l l l I I l i 1 g1 INVENTOR Q RALPH ZITO 2 BY ATT RNE"Eli n 8* M2: 8: w n m m u U n $2 52 Q2 L L 1 MY H NH M m r1 w illwmmIIIII LPG r IL l L @9 +2 E in: m? h m F fiT/QQN QYWN OQN 9n QWNW 8N 8N a3 tamm $8 we Shy- 0W- IMPACT INDICATING SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 1,1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. I0

INVENTOR RALPH ZITO Feb. 20, 1962 zn- IMPACT INDICATING SYSTEM OriginalFiled Aug. 1, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet I United States Patent Ofiiice 3,2Z,76Patented Feb. 20, 1962 Original application Aug. l, 1955, Ser. No.525,433, now

Patent No. 2,916,289, dated Dec. 8, 195*. Divided and this applicationDec. 15, 1953, Ser. No. 791,243

8 Claims. (Cl. 273--1$2.2)

This is a division of copending application Serial Numher 525,433, filedAugust 1, 1955, now Patent No. 2,916,289, issued Dec. 8, 1959.

This invention relates to an impact indicating system and moreparticularly to a system and apparatus for remotely indicating thelocation and score of projectile hits on a target. In the training ofmilitary gunners and, in particular, in the training of riflemen, it isdesirable to be able to indicate to the trainee the position and scoreof his hits upon a target. Heretofore, the only way of indicating hitshas been to station personnel near the targets for examining the targetafter each shot, determining the position of the hit, and signaling tothe trainee by spotting flags or other means the location of the hit.

Such a procedure is dangerous and time-consuming and inaccurate since itis often difficult to determine the position of a hit upon a targetperforated with holes from previous hits.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a system forautomatically recording and indicating the position of impact of eachand every round of ammunition striking a target.

It is another object of the invention to provide a system forautomatically recording and indicating the position of impact almostinstantaneously after a projectile is fired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a display of thelocation and score of each hit to the firer thereof in close proximityto him and remote from the target.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for indicatingthe attained score of each hit and a cumulative total of the scoreachieved as firing upon a selected target progresses.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system responsive tosonic shock waves from impacts which translates the period of such shockwaves into information for actuating a visual indication of said impact.

In accordance with the present invention, shock waves emanating from theimpact of a projectile striking a hard surface are detected byvibration-responsive devices and the time relationships of each shockWave to each other, as measured between the point of impact and eachdetector position, is recorded and stored, these recorded times areexpanded and the relative diiferences in magnitude therebetween aretranslated into data indicative of the distance of the point of impactfrom each of said detectors. Such data is further translated intosignals for actuating apparatus which displays a facsimile of the targetand the hits thereon. The display apparatus is located near the gunnerand remotely from the point of impact.

For a. better understanding of the invention, together with other andfurther objects thereof, reference is made to the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a general schematic illustration of the impact indicatingsystem.

FIGURE 1A and FIGURE 1B show target patterns which may be substitutedfor the target pattern shown in FIGURE 1. I

FIGURE 2 is a block schematic diagram of the time expanding portion ofthe system.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the shock wave form emanating from a point ofimpact.

FIGURE 4 shows the time relations stored by the counters of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the remote impact position and scoringindicator;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional end elevation of one of themotor-driven racks of FIGURE 5 FIGURE 7 is a partial plan view showingin detail th guiding members for the arms shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic illustration of the scoring counter.

- FlGURE 9 is a reverser and pen actuating circuits.

FEGURE 10 is an illustration of the facsimile target face plate.

FIGURE 11 is a schematic circuit diagram of the scoring counter.

In FIG. 1 a target generally indicated as 10 is provided with a face 11having a suitable pattern formed thereon and is located at the remoteend of a target firing range. The target pattern may be imprinted on asuitable material such as cloth or paper with a hard surfaced backingmember 13, such as a face hardened steel plate, positioned rearwardlyadjacent to the target pattern 11. The position of impact of aprojectile striking backing member 13 is sensed by a plurality ofsuitable detectors, and the sensing information is fed to translatingunit 15 by means of a suitable length of cable 17. Cable 17 also has aplurality of outlets 19 for additional score indicators which may beplaced along the firing range wherever desired.

Backing member 13 is inclined at an angle to the horizontal to directricocheting projectiles towards the ground. However, when target pattern11 as seen from the firing position, is geometrically projected ontoinclined backing member 13, the normally circular pattern is distortedinto a slightly elliptical shape, which results in negligible errors indetermination of the projectile position in a vertical dimension.Therefore, the backing member should be adjusted to an angle which willbe a compromise between display distortion and projectile rebound.

Additional targets may be substituted for the target C, shown in FIGl ifdesired. For example, a twin silhouette target of the type shown in FIG.1A may-be used, or a large bullseye design for long range firing, asshown in FIG. 133, may be employed.

The electrical mechanism comprising translating unit 15 is shown inblock schematic form in FIG. 2. Mounted near the edge of each of two ormore sides of member 13 and disposed intermediate the ends of each edge,are sonic detectors 12, 14 and 16 whichmay be any suitable devicecapable of generating a signal in response to sonic or supersonic shockwaves of the type emitted upon the impact of an object against a hardsurface. lit has been found that the impact of a bullet against a plateof armor steel will produce wave shapes of the form shown in FIG. 3.Such sonic waves have a very sharply rising front followed by a dampedsinusoidal oscillation due to ringing of the impacted surface.

As the initial rise has a frequency in the order of 5 megacycles orgreater, it is preferable that detectors .12, 14, 16 be responsive tohigh frequencies. It has been found that quartz crystals having anatural oscillation frequency of approximately 15 megacycles providesuitable devices responsive to the initial shock impulse when mounted incontact with the impact receiving plate 13. However, other types ofsonic detectors, such as magnetostriction devices, may be effectivelyemployed. For example, it has been found that a magnetostrictiondetector with a nickel rod as the sensing element provides a sonicpickup device with ability to withstand relatively high amplitudes oftransmitted shock waves,

schematic circuit diagram of the motor The output signal from eachdetector 12, 14, 16 which designate channels A, B, C, respectively, isreceived by a corresponding channel amplifier 18, 20, 22. Each channelamplifier has a preamp 24, 26, 28, a high pass filter-gate circuit .30,32, 34 connected to the output thereof and feeding into a squaringcircuit 36, 38, 40, which in turn feeds into a monostable blockingoscillator 42, 44, 46. A univibrator 48, 50, 52 is connected betweeneach of the outputs of the monostable blocking oscillators 42, 44, 46,respectively, and the inputs to filter gate circuits 30, 32, 34.

Preamplifier stages 24, 26, 28 are band pass amplifiers whose gains areadjusted so that pulses from their respective detectors 12, 14, 16 areamplified sufficiently to trigger blocking oscillators 42, 44, 46. Thegain from these amplifiers, however, is maintained suficiently low toprevent triggering from spurious vibrations or eX ternal noise.Filter-gate circuits 30, 32, 34 also serve to prevent triggering fromspurious vibrations. The filters may be adjusted for a relatively highcut-oif frequency such as five megacycles or above so that only thesharp, initial shock impulse is fed to the succeeding squaring circuits36, 38, 40.' Low frequency ringing or other disturbances are therebyeliminated and cannot pass to sueceeding units as sources of error. Theoutputs of filtergate circuits 30, 32, 34 are amplified by squaringcircuits 36, 38, 40, thus producing a sharp rise time pulse fortriggering monostable blocking oscillators 42, 44, 46, which provide anoutput of one positive going, short duration pulse for each triggeringpulse. The output pulse from each oscillator also triggers itscorresponding univibrator 48, 50, 52, each of which in turn supplies along duration, negative going pulse to cut oiT and deactivatefilter-gate circuits 30, 32, 34. Cutting off the filter-gate circuitsprevents further triggering of this circuitry by ringing of the plate 13or pick up rebound. Channel amplifier units 18, 20, 22 are connected toa pulse time sequence selector and distributor 54.

The impact of a projectile striking the hardened backing surface oftarget 16 generates a plurality of shock waves which emanate from thepoint of impact as circular wave fronts traveling in the form ofever-widening circles and at any instant would appear as a plurality ofconcentric circles with the point of impact at the center thereof. Itwill be appreciated that unless a point of impact is in the exact centerof the target, each detector 12, 14, 16 will receive the initial wavefront at a different time. By measuring the time difierentials of thepulses received by each of the three detectors, beginning at the instantthefirst pulse is received by one of the detectors to establish a timebasing reference, the exact location of the point of impact may bedetermined by converting the time relationships into distancemeasurements.

Pulses received by sequence selector unit 54 from channel amplifiers 18,20, 22, in a randomly distributed time relationship are separated anddistributed to output lines 55, 57, 59 of unit 54 in accordance with atime sequence such that line 55 always receives the first emitted pulse,line 57 always receives the second emitted pulse, and line 59 receivesthe last pulse, regardless of which detector originally emitted thesepulses. Pulse time sequence selector and distributor 54 comprises ORcircuits 56, 53, 60 and 62 and coincidence circuits 64 and 66.

An OR circuit as used here-and hereinafter in this specification is abuffer circuit having a plurality of inputs adapted to receive pulseseither from one input source or another. Such a circuit emits a signalfrom its output terminals when either a single signal or a plurality ofsignals are received on its inputs. A conventional OR circuit maycomprise merely a junction point for one or more circuits as inputs, thepoint itself being a single output, or an OR circuit may have one ormore electronic tubes so connected that each receives a single input buthave their outputs connected in parallel so that i but also that allpulses be coincidental in time.

one or more input pulses will always provide an output pulse therefrom.

A coincidence circuit as employed in the present invention means aconventional coincidence or gate circuit so adjusted that an outputpulse will not be emitted from an electronic circuit having two or moreinputs until a pulse has been received on each input. Such a circuitrequires not only that a pulse be received by all inputs, In the presentinvention these circuits are made to function more in the nature of aconventional AND circuit in which the time coincidence requirement isrelaxed. This is done by merely lengthening the time constant of theoperating pulses fed to the coincidence circuit so that the input pulsesoverlap in time. Such a circuit may be adapted to operate not only onthe reception of a pulse by all inputs, but the reception thereof neednot occur simultaneously.

Channel amplifiers 18, 20, 22 are all connected to OR circuit 56.Channel amplifier 18 is connected by means of line A to OR circuits 58,62 and coincidence circuit 64. Channel amplifier 20 is connected bymeans of line B to OR circuits 5'8, 60 and coincidence circuit 64.Channel amplifier 22 is connected by line C to OR circuits 60, 62 andcoincidence circuit 64. OR circuits 58, 60, 62 are connected tocoincidence circuit 66, which is adapted to emit an output pulse uponreception of two of the three pulses from OR circuits 58, 60, 62.

From each of the three channel amplifiers, two output signals for eachpulse input occur simultaneously, a'short duration pulse and a longduration pulse. Short duration pulses are supplied to OR circuit 56 fromeach of the blocking oscillators 42, 44, 46. OR circuit 56, acting as anisolation stage, provides an output upon arrival of each input pulse toline 55. This line always, therefore, transmits the first pulse receivedfrom any one of the three channel amplifier circuits.

Long duration pulses from each of the univibrators 48, 50, 52 are fed tolines A, B, C. Because of the arrangement of connections to OR circuits58, 60, 62 which are actuated by the long duration pulses, line 57always transmits the second pulse in time sequence, since coincidencecircuit 66 emits an output pulse upon reception of the second of threelong input pulses. For example, if the time sequence were such that unit18 emitted the first pulse. unit 22 passed the second pulse, and unit 20passed the third pulse in time relationship, then the sequence would beA-CB, and OR circuits 58 and 62 would both feed the pulse on line Asimultaneously to coincidence circuit 66, which is thereby placed in anactive state ready to emit an output pulse upon reception of a secondinput pulse. Emission of pulse C, the next successive pulse in timesequence from amplifier 22 causes an output pulse from OR circuits 60and 62 to be received by coincidence circuit 66, which is triggeredthereby and in turn emits a pulse which is transmitteed by line 57 asthe second pulse in time sequence.

Coincidence circuit 64 transmits an output pulse only upon reception ofthree input pulses. As lines A, B, and C are connected thereto, only thelast of the three pulses received from channel amplifiers 18, 20 and 22will trigger coincidence circuit 64. Thus the last pulse in timesequence is necessarily transmitted by line 59.

The velocity of sound through metallic medium is approximately l6,-000feet per second, or about 2X 10 inches per second, or 5X10" sec/in. Forthe average sized target of approximately 6 feet in width, the maximuminterval between pulses that could occur is approximately 72 5 10- or360 microseconds. Such time differentials are entirely too fast tooperate associated relay and target facsimile devices. Therefore, thepulses from circuits 56, 64, 66, although sequentially arrangedaccording to time spacing therebetween, are distributed by lines 55, 57,59 to a pulse time expander 61 which translates the time differentialsexisting between the first, second and third pulses proportionately by aconstant factor k to time differentials in the order of magnitudes oftenths of seconds.

Pulse time expander 61 has apluralityof electronic switches 70', 68 and72 to which are connected pulse lines 55, 57 and 59, respectively. Firstpulse line 55 is also connected to electronic switch 68 in such a mannerthat the transmission of a pulse by line 55 will place switches 68 and70 in an on or activated position. Second pulse line 57 is connected toswitch 68 in such a manner as to render it inactive when a pulse isreceived thereon. Third pulse line 59 is connected to the o position ofswitch 70 in addition to connection to the on position of switch 72. Theelectronic switches as utilized in the present invention may beflip-flop circuits or any other well known type of electronic switch asknown to those skilled in the art, and the switching action can beaccomplished in various ways.

For purposes of illustration, the switches employed in the presentinvention will be considered to be flip-flop circuits of the type whichare rendered in a conductive state by reception of a pulse and renderednon-conductive by reception of the next succeeding pulse.

Switches 68 and 70 are connected to gates 74 and 7.6, respectively. Apulse generator 78- is also connected to gates 74 and 76. Gates 74 and76 are conventional gating circuits of the type which provide outputsignals representative of signals fed to the input of the gating circuitwhen a positive gate controlling pulse is properly received by thecircuit from a gate controlling source such as flip-flop circuits 68,70. Gating circuits 74 and 76 are connected respectively to conventionalscalar counters 80 and 82.

These counters are of the type that record N-l pulses occurringregularly or at random, but recycle and emit an output pulse when the npulse occurs. Connected to the output of electronic switch 72 is a relay84. Contacts 86 of relay 84 are in a normally open position, but whenclosed they connect a discount pulse generator 88, similar to circuitryto pulse generator 78, to scalar counters 80, 82 and 90.

-In operation, the first shock wave to actuate a detector is amplified,shaped, and distributed, as described, and fed by line 55 to electronicswitch 70, establishing it in the on position. Gate 76, accordingly, isopened by actuation of switch 70, allowing pulse generator 78 to feedpulses through gate 76 into counter 82 where they are counted.

Since electronic switch 68 is also connected to the first pulse line 55,it is activated at the instant of passage of the first pulse so as toopen gate 74, allowing pulses from pulse generator 78 to passtherethrough and be fed to counter 80. Thus the transmission of thefirst pulse by line 55- activates counters '80 and 82 simultaneously.Transmission of the second pulse by line 57 to electronic switch 68renders it inactive, thereby closing gate '74 and stopping the count ofpulses by counter 80. A count is recorded by counter '80 representativeof the time dilferential between reception of the first pulse and thesecond pulse. When the last pulse in time sequence is transmittedthrough line 59, electronic switch 70 is accordingly turned oil? by thispulse. This action closes gate 76 which stops the feeding of pulses fromgenerator 78 to counter 82. Counter 82 then stores .for the moment acount representative of the time difierential between reception of thefirst and third shock impulse.

The time relationship represented by the two counters is shown in FIG.4. V

The information stored by counters 80, 82 and 90 relating to the timedifferential existing between the position information pulses must betranslated by translator 92 into corresponding time-spaced impulseswhich actuate apparatus for energizing motors 94, 96 and 98 of targetdisplay unit 100, in proper time sequence, as will be hereinafter morefully described.

In general, motors 94, 96 and 98 are mechanically linked to movable arms102, 104 and 106, respectively, and are adapted to move marking device159 (FIG. 8), which may include a pen or any other suitable markingmeans, into marking position. As the third and last pulse to be receivedfrom pulse time sequence selector and distributor 54 is emitted from thedetector positioned farthest away from the point of a given impact, thenthe corresponding motor of target display unit 100 must advance itsmovable arm farther than those of the other motors in time sequencewhile the motor corresponding to that detector receiving the first shockimpulse must be actuated last in order to properly position the markingdevice 159. Therefore, the time sequence fed to the motor starting unitscomprising translator 92 and motor sequence selector 110 is inverted byconventional complementing of the counters to secure the difierencebetween the count actually stored and some arbitrary number, usually thehighest number countable by a selected counter before recycling to zero.The discounting of the counters is performed as follows.

A continuously operating pulse generator is connected through normallyopen switch contacts of relay '84 to scalar counters 80, 82. and 90.This discount pulse gencrator 88 and pulse generator 78- areconventional pulse generators of the multivibrator type adapted to feedcounting pulses into scalar counters and may be any one of several typeswell known to those skilled in the art.

Line 59, which deactivated electronic switch 70 as mentioned above, isalso connected to electronic switch 72' in such a manner that thisswitch is actuated thereby when the third pulse is transmitted by line59. Actuation of switch 72 energizes relay 84, thereby closing contact86 and allowing discount pulse generator 88 to feed pulses by directconnection to counters 80, 82, 90. All counters immediately begincounting the pulses from generator 88 with counter 90 starting at zero,while counters and 82 resume their counting with the next succeedingcount from that last counted when electronic switch circuits 68 and 70were deactivated. Counter always reads zero initially and serves merelyas aconstant time delay in establishing an effective zero time orreference point.

Counters 80, 82 and 90 are of the type which count a predeterminednumber of pulses and then recycle to zero when the counters attain thehighest number countable thereon. At the time of recycling, an outputpulse is emitted from each counter which is fed to univibrators 112, 114and 116 to activate them by conventional pulse triggering action. Thenumber of counts necessary for recycling of a counter may be arbitrarilyset and chiefly depend upon the type of counter utilized, as is wellknown in the art.

For the purposes of illustration, assume that each counter recycles whenpulses have been counted. Then counter 82 will be the first in sequenceto recycle since it has stored the highest count, namely the countrepresenting the time interval between T1 and T3 as shown in FIG. 4. Thenext counter to reach the arbitrary 100 pulses is counter 80 which hasstored the count representing the'tirne interval between T1 and T2.Reference or dummy counter 90, having started from zero counts at theinstant that counters 80 and 82 resumed counting up to 100, is last intime sequence, so that univibrator 116 is activated lastly.

Univibrators 112, 114 and 116 are of the type which are activated by anincoming pulse and remain self-activated for a period of time dependenton the time constant f the circuit, and then resume a passive orinactive state until another pulse is received. The on time of eachunivibrator is suificient to activate relays 118, 120 and 122,respectively connected to each univibrator until motor arms 102, 104 and106 have progressed inwardly a distance sutficient to close startswitches 180, 182, 184 shown in FIG. 9.

Activation of each of the univibrators causes its corresponding relaycoil to be energized, thus closing in proper time sequence normally opencontacts 124, 126 and 128 of relays 118, 120 and 122. Each set ofcontacts is connected by motor sequence selector 110 to a properlyselected motor, to act as activating switches for applying power to eachmotor in proper time sequence. The motor sequence selector circuit 110is provided in order that the starting sequence of the several indicatorarms actuating motors 94, 96 and 98 corresponds in the proper inversetime relationship to the reception of the impact impulses received bydetectors 12, 14 and 16.

Connected to lines A, B and C are electronic switches 130, 132 and 134which are preferably of the flip-flop type adapted to be activated by afirst incoming pulse and deactivated by a second incoming pulse.Connected to the outputs of switches 130, 132 and 134 are relays 136,138 and 140 respectively. Each relay has a plurality of single pole,double throw contacts adapted to provide selected switching combinationsfor connecting the contacts 124, 126 and 128 of relays 118, 120, and 122to motors 94 and 98 in proper order.

For each impact on the target 10, detectors 12, 14 and 16 will beresponsive in accordance with one of six possible combinations ofsequential reception of impact pulses. As the time sequence arrangementof pulse reception' is transmitted by lines A, B and C, flip-flopswitches 130, 132 and 134 have, their inputs so connected to these linesthat their state of activity in conjunction with the interconnectionsbetween contacts of relays 136, 138 and 140 will ultimately determinewhich of'motors 94, 96 and 98 is to receive the first, second and thirdstarting pulse. One suitable arrangement for connection of lines A, Band C to electronic switches 130, 132, 134 and connections between thecontacts of relays 136, 138, 140 to motors 94, 96, 98 is shown in FIG.2.. A chart showing the six general categories of possible timesequences and condition of each relay 136, 138 and 140 to provide properactivation of each motor is set forth below. When two or more pulsesarrive simultaneously, they may be considered as a special case orvariation of one of the six general groups.

Time Sequence Relay Positions First Second Third Relay Relay Relay A B C0 0 1 A C B 0 1 1 B A O l 0 1 B O A 1 0 0 O A B 0 l. O O B A 1 l 0 Inthe chart, energization of each relay is indicated by a 1, whereas arelay remaining in a deactivated state is indicated by a zero. In FIG.2, relays 136, 13 8-, 140 are shown in a de-energized state.

Operation of the motor sequence selector 1-10 is as follows. Forexample, assume that a projectile strikes target 10 at such a positionthat the shock waves emanating from the point of impact actuatedetectors 12, 14 and 16 so that the time sequence of the pulses emittedfrom amplifiers 18, 20 and 22 is C--A--B. After distribution, expansionand inversion, pulses representing, this time sequence should actuatethe starting motors in the sequence BA--C, or the motors should bestarted in the order 96, 94, 98 respectively.

The first pulse on line C places switch 134 in the on position andmaintains switch 132 in the 011 position. The second pulse in timerelationship on line A turns switch 130 on and turns switch 134 011. Thethird pulse in time relationship on line B turns switch 130 off andturns switch 132 on, so that the resultant state of relays 136, 138 and140 is that relay 136 is de-energized, relay 138 is energized, and relay140 is de-energized.

rack and pinion arrangements.

Line 142 connected to contacts 124 of relay 118 always completes astarting circuit for the first motor to be started. Accordingly, thisline is connected through contacts 136a and 136]" and through contacts138a and 138b to motor 96, which is thereby actuated first. Line 144 isconnected to contacts 126 of relay and always completes the startingcircuit for the second motor to be started. Accordingly, this line isconnected through contacts b, 1400 and 136b, 1360 to motor 94 which isstarted secondly. Line 146 is connected to contacts 128 of relay 122 andalways completes the starting circuit for the third motor to be started.Accordingly, this line is connected through 138g, 138h and 1401:, 140ito motor 98, the third motor to be started in any sequence. Thus, theproper sequence of motor starting, namely 96, 94, 98, is provided. Anyof the other sequences shown in the chart may be similarly traced.

The mechanical arrangement of a suitable remotely positioned scoreindicator is shown in FIG. 5. The score indicator has a suitable housing148 with a transparent face 150 on which may be mounted a replaceablepaper target or roll of target paper 280 (FIG. 8) with target patternsprinted thereon. Arranged about three of the four sides of face 150 arethe hit marker drive motors 94, 96, 98, pivotally mounted on housing148' by means of suitable pivot pins 152, and positioned intermediate ofthe corners of face 150 in identical disposition with detectors 12, 14,16 located about the target 10. Linked to each drive motor is one of arm102, 104, 106 which are urged inwardly by motors 94, 96, 98,respectively, through individual rack and pinion members 156. The driveteeth 154 for the racks which engage pinions 156 are along the bottomedge of each arm as shown in more detail in FIG. -6 and FIG. 8 whichillustrate one of the A roller 107 is mounted above and in contact witheach arm to secure proper engagement of arm teeth 154 with pinion 156.Mounted on the inner end of arm 104 is a pen-stylus 158 actuated by asolenoid 159, shown in detail in FIG. 8. When the solenoid 159 isenergized, stylus 158 is urged upwardly against the bottom of the targetindicating paper to make a mark thereon for indicating the point ofimpact.

To insure a positive acting guide for each arm to the target markingposition, a guide mechanism is necessary. One form of suitable guidingmechanism is shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8. Guide bearings of thesleeve type 160, 162 are mounted on each of the inner ends of arms 102,106, to slideably support a pair of guide rods 164, 166. One end of eachguide rod is rotatably secured to arm 104 by means of a pin 168 to whichthe pen actuating solenoid 159 may also be mounted. Thus, as each arm102, 104, 106 is projected inwardly by its individual actuating motor,its freedom of travel is restrained by guide rods 164, 166, and it isurged to the marking position by the co-action of the forces exerted bythe inward movement of the remaining arms.

The arms move inwardly to a point determined by the junction of theirextended length, which in turn is a function of the time differentialexisting between the starting instants of each drive motor. Solenoid 159is energized upon electrical connection between contacts mounted on theends of arms 102 and 106 which necessarily occurs when all three armscome in contact with each other at a central contact ring 163. Thisannular ring is concentric with pin 168, but spaced therefrom by aninsulating bushing 165. Energization of solenoid 159 causes the pen 158to mark the facsimile target mounted on face 150. It is understood thattarget paper 280 need not be inscribed by an inked pen, but any othermeans for indicating the point of impact may be used. For example, aheated stylus may be substituted for the pen of solenoid 159 andheat-sensitive target paper of the type which changes color over areaswhere heat is applied may be employed to cover face 150. :Then, uponenergization 'of the solenoid 159,

r 9 pressure of the heated stylus 158 against the heat-sensitive paperwill suitably indicate the point of impact.

The operation and circuitry of the indicator marking device and thereversing circuit for the various motors is shown in more detail in FIG.9. Motor reversing and indicator circuits generally indicated in FIG. 2as 170 are Q98 in a forward direction and effectively by-passes orshorts out arm starting switches 180, 182, 184.

These switches are mounted on each arm 102, 104, 106and are in anormally open position when the arms are retracted.

. However, as soon as the arms begin to progress inwardly the switchesare closed and perform the function previously performed by contacts124, 126, 128. When arms 102 104, 106 have progressed to the point ofmutual contact, an energizing circuit for pen solenoid circuit 159 iscompleted by electrical connection between the contacts mounted on arms102, 104, 106.

The contact tip of arm 10 2, insulated from the body portion by asuitable strip of insulation 161, is connected to one terminal of relay178 and to one terminal of solenoid 159 through normally closed switches18 6, 188, 190. The other terminals of relay 178 and solenoid 159 areconnected through a resistor 192 to a source of DC. voltage. A capacitor196 is connected to pen solenoid 1'59 and ground. The capacitor isnormally maintained in a charged state by a conventional D.C. supply notshown. Grounding arm 102 through contact with arm 106 con- ;nectssolenoid 159 and relay 178 to ground. Resistor 192 has a high impedancein .comparison to the impedance of solenoid 159 and relay 178 connectedin parallel so that condenser 196 discharges therethrough, therebypulsing solenoid 159 and causing marking stylus 153 to be urged upwardlytowards the facsimile target on indicator housi-ng 148. At the sameinstant, relay 178 is energized, thus causing reversal of motors 94, 96,9% through closing of contacts 17'8a178b, 178d-178e, 178g-178h. Relay178 is held in an energized position through a holding circuitcomprising contacts 178j178k and stopping switches 198, 200, 202 whichare also mounted on arms 102, 104, 106. Thus when the arms have beenretracted through reversal of motors 94, 96, 98, switches 198, 200, 202are opened at the proper point and break the holding circuit of relay178.

, As soon as relay 17 8 is actuated, relay 204 which serves as a resetrelay for all electronic switch and counter circuits is actuated throughcontacts 178m178n of reversing relay 178.

Actuation of relay 204 closes a pair of contacts 206 to reset allelectronic switches to normal position by grounding the grids of allelectronic switches through a slow discharge circuit comprisingcapacitor 200 and resistor 210. The discharge circuit is connected toreset terminals 209b,'c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j (FIG. 2) by a suitableconnection from each terminal to terminal 20%. If desired, theelectronic switches may be reset manually by means of a switch 208. I

In the event that for some reason any of the arms should overrun theircourse of travel, normally closed microswitches 186, 188, 190 andnormally open microtswitches 214, 216, 218, all mounted nearthe extremeouter ends of arms 102, 104, 106 are actuated. Switches 214, 216, 21%close to connect reversing relay 178 to ground, thereby immediatelyreversing motors 94, 96, 98 while switches 186, 188, 190 open to preventsolenoid 159 from erroneously marking the target.

In addition to providing the location of each hit upon the target, it isalso desirable that the rifleman be provided with a record of the numberof times that he has scored a bulls-eye and, additionally, a record ofthe total score for each period that the gunner is on the firing line.An embodiment of a suitable sconing mechanism is shown in FIGS. 8, 10and 11. scored by assigning five points for hits in the center orbulls-eye area, and four, three and two points, respectively, for a hitin each of the concentrically marked E areas surrounding the centerarea. Furthermore, for targets of the silhouette type, as shown in FIG.1A, a score of five is usually assigned for hitting the target withinany portion of its marked area. Although it will be understood thatother scoring values may be assigned to each area and the scoring devicedescribed herein may be adapted to be responsive to a different scoringscheme, for purposes of illustration the above-mentioned scores will beemployed.

Directly beneath the inner end of arm 104 and in axial alignment withsolenoid actuated pen 158, is mounted an electrical contact arm 212.This arm rides upon a plu rality of insulated metallic sectors which, inconjunction with an insulated backing member to which said sectors aresecured, comprises plate 217 shown in more detail in FIG. 10. Inparticular, plate 217 has fourteen conducting sectors or segmentsgenerally indicated as 219 and so shaped that each segmentcon-figuration is separated from another by a small boundary areagenerally indicated as 220. This boundary area may be air spacing or, ifdesired, the sectors may be imbedded. in an insulating hacking member,such as a suitable plastic or Teflon material. It will be seen that thesegments are so arranged that compositely they define replicas of eachscoring area of the three types of targets illustrated in FIGS. 1, 1A,lB. Plate 217 is mounted directly beneath target paper 280 and inregister with the design imprinted thereon. Thus, when pen 158 marks thetarget paper 280, the end of contact arm 212 is in electrical contactwith the identical portion of the target area that pen 158 has marked.

As silhouette targets A and B are always positioned in the lower leftand right hand corners of target 10,

detectors 12, 1-4, 16 will respond satisfactorily to hits in these lowerareas. Therefore, sector areas for silhouette targets A and B may beincluded on rider plate 217 as shown in FIG. in more detail. The sectorelements which combine to form the several discrete scoring areas foreach target are listed according to target type, area of a selectedscoring designation and reference numerals of sectors comprising ascoring area as follows:

Score Value Target selected, the five scoring area would include sector241; for the four scoring area, sectors 237, 239 would be electricallyconnected together; for the three scoring area, sectors 227, 229, 231,233, 235, 247, 249 would be electrically connected together; and for thetwo scoring area sectors 217, 221, 223, 225, 228, 243, 245

Conventional targets are usually may be adapted to represent theselected value assigned to it. For example, sector plate 223 has noscoring value when silhouette target A has been selected and fired uponby the rifieman. When silhouette target B has been selected, sectorplate 228 has a scoring value of five when'hit, and is thereforeconnected; when it comprises a portion of C target, it has a value oftwo and is electrically connected to other two valued sectors; and whenit comprises any element of the outer concentric ring portion of Dtarget, it has a value of three, and is connected to other three valuedsectors.

Relay circuits 230, each responsive to a current representative of eachachieved score, are connected to scoring indicator 232 through cable 234and actuate a plurality of conventional mechanical counters 236, 238,240, 242, 244, which, respectively, totalize the number of hits in areasassigned the values of two, three, four and five and the total scoreachieved during. each firing period. T

The relay circuits contained in box 230 which actuate the score.indicator 232 are shown in schematic detail in FIG. 11. For example, fora firing period of twenty rounds, a score of eighty may have beenachieved, consisting of five twos, six threes, eight fours and fourfives. The four counters would indicate 5, 6, 8, 4 and 80. Pen solenoid159 is connected to relay circuits 230 by means of cablesconnectingterminal 244a (FIG; 9) to terminal 244a, and terminal 24411 to terminal244d. When solenoid 159 is energized by the discharge of, capacitor 196,the pulse discharge voltage is applied to AC. impulse type relay 248.Energization of relay 248 closes normally open contacts 248a and 2485,which in.

turn applies A.C line voltage through line 246 to rider arm 212. At theinstantof energization of relay 248, arm 212 has reached momentarily astationary position with respect to sector plate 217, so that it isresting upon a sector plate having some arbitrary score value assignedthereto, depending upon the selection of targets A, B,

C or D by means of a switch box 224.

Connected to the four scoring value output lines of switch box 224 arefour selection relays 250, 252, 254 and 256 respectively, contained inbox 230, which are connected to complete a circuit to the AC. supplysource by means of interconnections between contacts 260. These contactsare so interconnected that if the rider arm 212 should happen to stop onthe boundary line between the two sectors, although the contact point ofarm 212 is sufficiently large to bridge a pair of sectors, yet only thehighest sector contacted will have its value scored. This isaccomplished by providing the next higher scoring relay with contactswhich, when actuated, disconnect the return connection for the nextlower valued relay. For example, if arm 212 were to rest on the spacebetween a pair of sectors having scoring values three and four,respectively, only relay 254 would be energized. Relay 254 causescontacts 260g and 260): to close, but at the same time opens contacts hand i which are closed when in a normally deenergized position of relay254. Opening of contacts 26% and 260i breaks the return line for relay252, thus preventing it from being energized by connection to groundedA.C. supply line 258. In like manner, interconnections between contacts260 prevent only the highest score to be recorded between sectors havingscore values two-three or four-five.

When any one of relays 250-256 is energized by impulse relay 248, aholding circuit is closed through a corresponding pair of holdingcontacts 262, one pair being associated with each relay. The holdingcircuit is com- 12 pleted by connections between lines 246, 264 and eacharmature of contacts 262. Energization of any one of relays 250, 252,254, 256 also energizes its complementary scoring counter relay fromrelay group 266, 268, 270,

y 272 through the closing of one pair of normally open contacts 260.

Using the above example, if relay 254 were energized then scoringcounter relay 270 would be energized correspondingly through the closingof relay contacts 260g and 260/1. Each scoring relay 266, 268, 270, 272actuates a conventional mechanical counter which registers a hit in anarea of designated score value each time it is energized. For example,the counter actuated by relay 272 would count the total number of fivesachieved during an interval of firing. f

To indicate the total score, there is provided a uniselector 274 of thestepping relay type and a total score relay 276 which actuatesandadvances a conventional mechanical scoring indicator. Uniselector 274has six banks of contacts indicated as 274a, b, c, d, e, f, and eachbank has ten contacts, of which nine maybe utilized as. operatingcontacts while the tenth is the conventional "0 or resting contact. Whenrelay' 248 is closed upon energization of pen solenoid 159, line voltageis applied to one terminal of uniselector relay coil 274 through contactO of contact bank 274a. The other terminal of relay coil 274 isconnected to A.C. line 258 through its own normally closed breakerpoints 278. As all of the contact positions of bank 274:: are connectedtogether and to AC. input line 246, with the exception of contact 0, thepulsing of uniselector 274 by momentaryclosing of contacts 248:: and2481: will cause it to advance each wiping arm of the several contactbanks one position and will therefore hold itself closed when wipingarm-of bank 27% engages contact position No. 1. Uniselector 274 willthen advance itself in step-wise fashion from positions 1 through 9 andback to zero with a short pause at each position since breaker points278 momentarily break the circuit upon each energization of uniselectorrelay coil 274.

Score counting relay 276 has one terminal connected to AC. line 246 andthe other terminal is connected through one of selectively energizedcontact banks 274a -274d to line 258 when 'a selected pair of normallyopen contacts 260 are closed. The contacts of banks 274a-274d aresufiiciently spaced so that progression of each wiping arm from onecontact to another momentarily opens the circuit to counting relay 276.Thus the mechanical counter is allowed to recover between contactadvancements so that it counts each advancing step as an individualcount. If, for example, relay 254 were energized, indicating a hit inthe four area, contacts 260g and 26% would close, thereby applying linevoltage from line 258 to individual scoring counter 270 and alsoapplying line voltage to bank 2740. As stepping relay 274 advances,total scoring counter relay 276 will receive four separate impulses frombank 274a and will thus record them as additions to the previouslyrecorded total.

Bank 274 provides a switch for releasing the holding contacts 262 ofcounter selector relays 250-256. Bank 274 has nine of its switchingpositions connected to lines 246 and 264 with its zero or restingposition unconnected.

In operation, when uniselector relay 274 is pulsed by energization ofrelay 248, the contact wiping armature of bank 274 advances one steppast zero position and supplies holding current through contacts 262 tothe one relay of group 250-256 which was energized on the initialimpulse from relay 248. A selected pair from the group of holdingcontacts 262 pass holding current to the energized selecto relay duringthe period that uniselector relay 274 is advancing banks 274(1-274through its nine positions. When the tenth or zero restingposition isreached, the holding circuit to bank 274 is opened so that the activatedselector relay from group 250-256 and the activated scoring counterrelay from group 266-272 are de-energized, and the scoring mechanismreturns to an inactive state, ready for the reception of another markingand scoring pulse. At the end of a firing period, all of the individualscore counters and the total score counter are reset to zero eithermechanically or by conventional relay resetting means. As the countersare conventional type with normal resetting means, a reset feature isnot described herein in detail.

I claim:

1. -In a system for remotely indicating the position of impact on atarget of the type having discrete areas of selected scoring values, ascore indicator for indicating the scoring value of each impact on saidtarget comprising a facsimile of said target, means for marking on saidfacsimile the position of said impacts on said target, driving meansselectively responsive to signals representative of said position ofimpact for moving said marking means to a corresponding position on saidfacsimile, means operative to actuate said marking means when saidmarking means has arrived at a position of impact to be marked on saidfacsimile, score registering means including a plurality of scoringregisters associated with said facsimile for registering the number ofimpacts in each of said discrete areas of selected scoring values, eachof said scoring registers being selectively associated with one of saiddiscrete areas and adapted to indicate the number of impacts in the areaassociated therewith, and means connected to said score registeringmeans and said actuating means for said marking means and operative inresponse to actuation of said marking means to selectively actuate thescoring register associated with the area in which an impact occurred.

2. In a system for remotely indicating the position of impacts on atarget of the type having discrete areas of selected scoring values, ascore registering device for registering the scoring value of eachimpact upon said target comprising a facsimile of said target pattern, aconducting surface associated with said fascimile and having a pluralityof discrete, insulated sectors representative of said areas of selectedscoring values, means for indicating on said facsimile the position ofan impact on said target, means operative in response to actuation ofsaid indicatng means for electrically contacting the sector associatedwith a target area in which an impact has occurred, a source ofpotential connected to said contact means, and counting means seriallyconnected to said contacted sector and said source of potential forregistering the number of impacts in each area of selected scoringvalues.

3. A score registering device according to claim 2 wherein said countingmeans includes a scoring register for each of said selected score valuesswitchably connected to correspondingly designated sectors, and whereinswitching means are serially connected between said contacting means andeach of said registers, said switching means having interconnections soarranged that only the register connected to the highest valued sectorcontacted by said contacting means is energized each time a position ofimpact is indicated.

4. A score registering device according to claim, 2 wherein saidcounting means includes means for generating a number of discrete pulsesequal to the selected scoring value of an instant impact, and a counterfor counting said pulses to indicate the cumulative score for adesignated period, each time said indicating means is actuated.

5. A score registering device according to claim 4 wherein said pulsegenerating means includes at least one stepping switch operable whensaid indicating means is actuated to intermittently energize saidcumulative scoring counter with pulses corresponding numerically to theselected scoring value of the instant impact.

6. A score registering device according to claim 5 wherein said pulsegenerating means includes means for cycling said stepping switch througha plurality of discrete steps to elfect said intermittent energizationof said counter and return said switch to a 0 reset position,

whereby said switch is conditioned for supplying pulses to a saidcounter equal in value to the selected score of the next impact.

7. A score registering device according to claim 5 wherein said pulsegenerating means includes impulse relay means responsive to energizationof said indicating means to initially energize said stepping switches.

8. In a system for remotely indicating the position of impacts on atarget of the type having discrete areas of selected scoring values, ascore registering device for registering the scoring value of eachimpact upon said target comprising a facsimile of said target pattern, aconducting surface associated with said facsimile and having a pluralityof discrete, insulating sectors representative of said areas of selectedscoring values, means for indicating on said facsimile the position ofan impact on said target, means operative in response to actuation ofsaid indicating means for electrically contacting the sector associatedwith a target area in which an impact has occurred, a source ofpotential connected to said contact means, counting means seriallyconnected to said contacted sector and said source of potential forregistering the number of impacts in each area of selected scoringvalues, said counting means being actuated each time said indicatingmeans arrives at a position of impact, said counting means includingpulse generating means having at least one stepping switch adapted tointermittently energize a counter in pulse fashion, a counter forcounting said pulses whereby said counter indicates the cumulative scorefor a designated period, said pulse generating means including impulserelay means responsive to actuation of said indicat-,

ing means for initially energizing said stepping switch, a holdingcircuit connected to said counting means for maintaining said countingmeans activated until said pulses from said stepping switch are receivedby said cumulative score counter, and means for cycling said steppingswitch through a plurality of discrete steps to effect said intermittentenergization of said counter and return said switch to a 0 resetposition, said holding circuit being deenergized by said stepping switchat the end of each cycle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS966,361 Rose Aug. 2, 1910 2,592,429 Kirnmel Apr. 8, 1952 2,883,194Bogner Apr. 21, 1959

